www.sciencepark.upm.edu.my

BRIEF TECHNOLOGY

Palm oil clarification process using a vacuum technology improves

the existing process which use gravity settling. With this new

concept of separation, the oil separation is improved by 300% and

oil losses in the sludge is reduced by 50% as well as maintaining

the final crude palm oil quality.

PROBLEM STATEMENT & CURRENT ISSUES

High oil losses in clarification process causes a detrimental loss

in overall throughput, affecting the OER.

Long retention time rely on gravitational settling where require at

least 3 hours for complete separation.

(Both factors affect the Oil Extraction Rate (OER) per mill)

INVENTIVENESS & NOVELTY

Creating a vacuum condition in a clarifier tank to enhance the oil

water separation and shorten the oil retention time.

Vacuum contactor designed with a built-in baffles to increase the

surface area of the feed, thus vacuum can be minimized.

Increasing concern on high oil loss at the clarifier station, vacuum

assisted palm oil clarifier has been constructed to improve the oil

water separation and reduce the oil losses during the process.

Conventional process operates on gravitational force thus longer

time is required for the oil to settle and complete. This concept can

be used in any industry that relates to oil water separation

Crude Palm Oil Vacuum ClarifierPATENT NO : PI 2019006095

19.0cm17.5cm

After 15

minutes

17.4

17.6

17.8

18

18.2

18.4

18.6

18.8

19

19.2

0 10 20 30 40 50

OIL

LE

VE

L,

CM

TIME, MIN

Separation Time vs Oil Level

Best Parameters used

T = 95

P = 100

Dilution = 40%

V = 8 rpm

Project Leader : Prof Dr Robiah Binti Yunus

Team members : Dr Dayang Radiah AB, Dr Ahmad Jaril Asis (Sime Darby), Khairul Nazrin

Dept./Faculty : Department of Chemical and Environmental Eng

Email : robiah@upm.edu.my

Phone : 03-97694260

Expertise : Transesterification, Encapsulation, Biofuel & Biodiesel production

ADVANTAGES Save energy - This is because the amount of steam/electric use

is less as the retention time is short.

Save Time- Compare to existing technology, it requires 3 hours

to complete separation while using vacuum technology, only 30

minutes to complete separation.

Increase Product Throughput - Product throughput can be

increase as the retention time of the separation is much shorter

compare to existing technology

Simple Operating -The concept is using a simple suction to

create vacuum in the vessel and not require complex

modification to install in the existing technology.